South Korea claims 3-0 win over Jamaica
Ji Dong-won heads in the first goal in a friendly match against Jamaica at Seoul World Cup Stadium, Tuesday. / Yonhap
Ji Dong-won vying for sole striker spot
By Nam Hyun-woo
Ji Dong-won led Korea to rally past Jamaica 3-0 in a friendly match at Seoul World Cup stadium, Tuesday, showing he is still a strong contender for the Taeguk Warriors’ striker role.
Ji, who seemed to be neglected by coach Uli Stielike’s search for a sole striker, scored one goal and earned a penalty kick. Also, he contributed to another goal after his dipping shot was punched away by the Jamaican goalkeeper into the path of Hwang Ui-jo who scored Korea’s third goal.
Since he joined the national team for international games in March, he was far from earning additional caps, but as he gained more playing time at the Bundesliga’s FC Augsburg, Stielike called on him for the challenging away game against Kuwait last week and Tuesday’s friendly with Jamaica.
As Ji shone in the game, the 24-year-old will likely be in consideration for the sole striker role down the road, competing with Stielike’s favorite choices Lee Jeong-hyeop, Portugal-based Suk Hyun-jun and other local assets such as Hwang and Kim Shin-wook.
Also with the win, the German coach is keeping his bid to ensure no further losses this year, with two qualifying matches for the 2018 World Cup remaining. Korea ― with a record of 14 wins, three draws and one loss ― hosts Myanmar on Nov. 12 and visits Laos five days later.
Against Jamaica, which finished second at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, but couldn’t bring its full roster to Seoul, Stielike also tweaked his starting 11, deploying Hwang as the sole striker, and Ji and Lee Jae-sung supporting from the wings. Ki Sung-yueng was also assigned a more attacking role behind Hwang.
This was Korea’s first game against Jamaica since 1998, with the host claiming one win and one draw before Tuesday’s match.
The early first half was largely controlled by the Koreans, who boasted 81 percent pass accuracy, but failed to create any openings.
In the 14th minute, Hwang found space in the box and launched a right-footed attempt to the left corner, but it veered just past the post. The Taeguk Warriors tested the Jamaicans again six minutes later, with Ki Sung-yueng’s point-blank volley which was blocked by a Jamaican defender. In the 30th, Ki found the top left corner from a cut-back pass from right flank, but his attempt went wide.
While the Jamaicans defiantly locked the hosts out from their box, the stalemate continued until Ji ‘s header found the net in the 34th minute.
Ji redirected a Jung Woo-young corner into the net, to score the first goal for his country since September 2011, and his eighth overall internationally.
Gaining momentum, the Koreans continued to test their opponents, with Hwang hitting the crossbar from a Han Kook-young feed three minutes later. Though the Taeguk Warriors started running a one-sided match, they were unable to extend their lead until Ji was fouled in the left side of the box, allowing Ki to score from the penalty spot 11 minutes into the second half.
With Hwang scoring the team’s third goal on a deflected ball, the Koreans took full control of the game and held on to it until the end of the match, while Ji was replaced by Kwon Chang-hoon after playing 78 successful minutes.
Meanwhile, the retiring ceremony for Seol Ki-hyeon, a former Fulham winger, was held at the stadium. Seol was the first Korean to score in the UEFA Champions League; and helped his country to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, scoring the equalizer in the round of 16 match against Italy.